The Power of the Jewish Woman

In this week's parsha, Yisro, we read. "And Moshe went up to Hashem, and Hashem called to him from the mountain saying,  'so shall you say to Beis Yaakov (the Jewish women), and you shall tell to the Bnei Yisrael (the Jewish men).'"

Rashi explains that when you teach Torah to women it should be in a soft way, meaning, stressing the positive and the rewards for keeping the Torah and mitzvas. However, to the men, speak harshly, tell them the punishments for not keeping the Torah and mitzvas.

Why the difference between women and men when it comes to teaching the Torah? Why does Hashem tell Moshe, first to talk to the women and only after the men? What general lessons, about how to talk to women, could we learn from here?

Jewish women have a special place in Jewish life. Most of the nurturing and upbringing of the next generation is in their hands. She is also the backbone of the Jewish home, if she wants her home to be more kosher, it will be, if she wants it to be more observant, it will be. The future and Jewishness of her family rests primarily in her hands.

It stands to reason that Hashem would want the women on board first, because so much rests on them. Therefore, she needs to be knowledgeable in Torah and mitzvas, so she can create a Jewish atmosphere in her home.

According to Jewish tradition, women are naturally spiritual and close to Hashem, they don't need harsh words to be convinced to do what they sense is right. Harsh words would only have the opposite effect, they only cause women to close up and become unreceptive.

This is also a lesson for men. The success of your home depends on your relationship with your wife and that is dependent on your tone of voice.

A successful Jewish home, effects the family, the community, the Jewish people and ultimately, the whole world. This is the power of a Jewish home, this is the power of the Jewish woman.

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Dedicated to the Shluchos, in honor of the Kinus Hshluchos.